DENVER (KDVR) — Spring is here. Time for hiking, biking — and snakes. Rattlesnakes.

“They are here. And they are a Colorado resident, so I think we have to be wary of it,” said Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, veterinarian with VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. “With just a little bit of foresight, we can save a lot of heartache.”

In Colorado, there are thousands of rattlers. They are not aggressive by nature, but they will bite if they feel threatened.

Fitzgerald said to know before you go.

“I think you are taking your dog on a hike, keeping him on a leash in areas we are not familiar with. Not letting him get into the underbrush and get far away from you. The snakes are here,” Fitzgerald said.

A prairie rattlesnake coiling and sensing with his tongue
A prairie rattlesnake in the tall grass near the trail in Roxbourough State Park reacts quickly by coiling and sensing with his tongue. With his rattles shaking violently he was ready to strike. (Getty Images)

Fitzgerald said the majority of dogs bitten by snakes suffer wounds on the face and nose.

“Easily, more than 90% of the bites are on the face. They go down — Hey, what are you? What are you? What are you? — and they get nailed,” Fitzgerald said.

Some dogs, like hunting dogs, are normally not on leashes. So what do you do if a rattlesnake bites your dog?

“The worst thing you can do is wait to get help. In Colorado, most people are fairly close to some type of veterinary care,” Fitzgerald said.

Stay in your lane, Fitzgerald said, and hopefully, that rattlesnake will stay in his.